Ubuntu QA:
BlogBrainstormPackage status
Log in
Ubuntu QA
The Ubuntu community has contributed 16778 ideas, 103272 comments, 2165696 votes
Idea sandbox Idea sandbox
Popular ideas Popular ideas
Ideas in development Ideas in development
Implemented ideas Implemented ideas
Idea #3844: Do not install support for PalmOS devices by default

Written by jespdj the 8 Mar 08 at 07:23. Category: Installation. Related project: Nothing/Others. Status: New
Rationale
Most users do not have a PalmOS PDA. For some reason, Ubuntu developers decided to install support for PalmOS devices by default in Ubuntu (you can access it at: System / Preferences / PalmOS Devices).

I think it's not a good idea to by default install support for one specific brand of PDA's which only a tiny fraction of the users is ever going to use. Those people who do have a PalmOS PDA can easily install it afterwards.

So: Please remove support for PalmOS devices from the default install. This includes the packages: gnome-pilot, gnome-pilot-conduits.
Tags: (none)

940
votes
up equal down
Solution #1: Auto-generated solution of idea #3844
Written by jespdj the 8 Mar 08 at 07:23.
Ubuntu Brainstorm was updated in January 2009. Since the idea #3844 was submitted before this update, its rationale and solution are not separated. Please vote accordingly, and if you have the necessary rights, please separate the rationale from the solution. Thanks!

Propose your solution

Attachments
forum Ubuntuforums.org thread #1187327


Duplicates


Comments
Auzy wrote on the 8 Mar 08 at 08:01
Makes sense..

Palm was never even that popular years ago.

Aomapes wrote on the 8 Mar 08 at 09:17
Or rather make it an universal PDA support app not limited to a special brand.
Anyone knows of one that would be suitable ?

Eldmannen wrote on the 8 Mar 08 at 11:39
Yeah, it seems a bit dumb to give PalmPilot a special treatment.

Ralf.Nieuwenhuijsen wrote on the 8 Mar 08 at 13:13
Its the same with HP printers.

What we need is a you-plug-it-in and window pop-ups to ask you to install supported software.

tbrminsanity wrote on the 8 Mar 08 at 14:43
I think that basic support for all hardware should be included in by default. -1

maybeway36 wrote on the 8 Mar 08 at 18:44
It's not just Palm devices it supports, it's any device with PalmOS.

maybeway36 wrote on the 8 Mar 08 at 18:45
It shouldn't be taken out unless more space is needed on the CD. I can't imagine it being that large.

spyyder wrote on the 8 Mar 08 at 20:40
So much for giving users choice.

quadrispro wrote on the 8 Mar 08 at 21:30
Good idea

surban wrote on the 8 Mar 08 at 21:37
I agree that Palm specific sync options should be replaced by generic sync tools for PDAs / mobile phones.

jiu wrote on the 8 Mar 08 at 23:38
agree it should be something generic, if anything is to be there by default. I'm not expecting to find such tools installed by default anyway

alvevind wrote on the 9 Mar 08 at 16:59
Mobiles syncing are becomming more important than PDAs, and in a few years the PDA product segment will completely disapear and be replaced by advanced mobiles and ultra mobile laptops.

fadyek wrote on the 10 Mar 08 at 12:04
Even though including pilot-link by default seems a bit biased, but is there any other PDA hardware that syncs well with Ubuntu? So many Ubuntu users switch to Windows just to sync their devices. And I stopped switching to Windows after I finally got my Sony Clie to sync with Ubuntu. So at least until there is better syncing software that syncs with newer devices PalmOs devices should be installed by default, just to show that at least some devices can be synced in Ubuntu.

asashnov wrote on the 12 Mar 08 at 03:29
I have Palm but I use jpilot instead gnome-pilot-*

wolfwitch wrote on the 20 Mar 08 at 14:59
Thanks! I always thought this was stupid. I doubt there are really THAT many people using Palm devices anymore, and installing it by default is just a waste of resources. Palm support, as well as any other OSS PDA/Mobile support, should be available in Add/Remove, but not installed by default.

wolfwitch wrote on the 20 Mar 08 at 15:01
Forgot to mention: Right now- it can't even be removed because of desktop integration. That is just silly. Why integrate something probably 5% actually use?

nitro182 wrote on the 13 Apr 08 at 22:11
When a Palm PDA is detected, display a window that ask you if you want to install the support for PalmOS.

Sorry for my bad english

Clorox wrote on the 16 Aug 09 at 21:38
So far, Evolution is the only thing that requires PalmOS sync, and even then, it just "recommends" instead of "requires". Therefore, it should be easy to safely remove it, but what's wrong with not including it by default?


Post your comment